SPL forms and notices, in order

Shared parental leave fails most often on paperwork, not eligibility. Three notices, in sequence, each with its own deadline — get these right and the leave itself is straightforward.

1 · Curtailment notice (mother → her employer)

The mother tells her employer the date her maternity leave will end — at least 8 weeks before that date. It's binding once leave has started (revocable in limited cases: within 6 weeks of birth, or if the partner turns out ineligible). ACAS and gov.uk publish model letters; employers must accept any written notice with the required content.

2 · Notice of entitlement and intention (each parent → their own employer)

Also 8 weeks ahead: a declaration of eligibility, the child's details, how much SPL/ShPP each parent intends to take and a non-binding indication of when. The employer can ask (within 14 days) for the child's birth certificate and the other parent's employer details — respond within a further 14 days.

3 · Period-of-leave (booking) notice

The binding one: specific dates, 8 weeks before the block starts. Each parent has three booking notices by right — a notice for continuous leave must be accepted; a discontinuous pattern inside one notice (e.g. alternating fortnights) can be refused within 14 days, converting to continuous leave from the start date.